HAMPTON, VA (February 11, 2013) - Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is pleased to announce that it has received a $3 million contribution from an existing partner that will allow further support within its Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) for patients suffering from Chemotherapy Induced Neutropenia who are seeking financial relief for their medical co-payments. These funds will be available to patients beginning February 4, 2013.

PAF’s CPR Program provides direct financial support for pharmaceutical co-payments to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries, who financially and medically qualify. Since PAF’s Co-Pay Relief program was founded in 2004, it has provided more than $180 million in financial assistance to more than 86,000 patients who would have been otherwise unable to afford their pharmaceutical co-payments. In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, PAF’s CPR Program assisted 36,993 patients, representing a 168 percent increase from the previous year, and allocated more than $39 million to patients to help alleviate the financial burden of out-of-pocket pharmaceutical co-payments.

“The Co-Pay Relief Program was developed after PAF recognized extreme increases each year in the number of patients seeking co-pay assistance, despite the fact they were insured,” said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder and CEO of PAF. “Battling any disease is difficult, particularly with high-cost pharmaceutical co-pay expenses. Thanks to this extremely generous donation, we will be able to offer even greater support to patients battling chronic, debilitating and life-threatening disease who are facing significant financial hardship as well.”

Chemotherapy Induced Neutropenia is the medical condition that occurs when a patient experiences a decreased level of white blood cells that normally serve the body by protecting it from bacterial infections as a result of intense chemotherapy treatments.

Patient Advocate Foundation was founded on the principle that health care is a basic human need and shared social responsibility. Annually, PAF receives thousands of contacts requesting information and assistance via their toll-free hotline, as well as online, with complete direct, sustained case management services provided to patients from all fifty states free of charge. For more information about PAF’s Co-Pay Relief Program visit www.copays.org or call toll free (866) 512-3861.